Broken Frontier

Archaia Studios Press (ASP) is pleased to announce that Artesia Afire (ASP, $24.95, ISBN: 1-932386-08-4, 240 pages) is a Graphic Novel Book of the Year Award finalist for ForeWord Magazine’s annual prize. This is the second straight year an Artesia book has been a finalist; last year the first book in the Book of Dooms series, Artesia (ASP, $24.95, ISBN: 1-932386-00-9, 192 pages), won top honors and the Gold Medal.

“I was surprised I was nominated and even more surprised to have won last year, having gone up against some great books from some talented creators and publishers,” said Artesia creator Mark Smylie. “To be nominated again for Artesia Afire is a nice way to follow that up. The field of nominees looks really competitive once again, making it an honor simply to have made the finalist cut once more.”

Seven years ago, ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards was established to bring increased attention to the literary achievements of independent presses and their authors. This year more than 500 finalists in 52 different BOTYA categories were announced. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners are awarded at Book Expo America in early June. For a complete list go to: http://www.forewordmagazine.net/botya/

Written and painted by Mark Smylie, Artesia is a comic book rich in fantasy, mysticism, and mythology, an epic and strange tale of war and magic set in the strife-riven realms of the Known World. It tells the ongoing adventures and exploits of the warrior-witch Artesia. Both Artesia and its sequels Artesia Afield (Archaia Studios Press, $24.95, ISBN: 1-932386-02-5, 192 pages) and Artesia Afire, are available at finer bookstores and comic book shops everywhere.